Frequently Asked Questions

How difficult is it for CVCS students to get into the college of their choice?

Colleges generally consider students on the basis of these things: grade-point average (GPA), SAT scores, and class rank. In a school of our size, class rank is the least important of the three, since our classes are smaller than those in the public schools.

As long as they do their part in maintaining a solid GPA and putting up good SAT scores, CVCS students have no trouble getting into college. We have students who excel at various colleges in many areas of study. Many of our students have earned scholarships to colleges, and many show up regularly on Dean’s Lists.

CVCS students have been accepted to and have gone on to succeed at Christian and secular colleges and
universities. Our students have been accepted at such Christian schools as Geneva, Grove City, Messiah, Eastern, Lancaster Bible, Waynesburg and others in Pennsylvania, as well as Clearwater (Fla.), Liberty (Va.), Pensacola (Fla.), Cedarville (Ohio), Oral Roberts (Okla.), Grace (Ind.), Taylor (Ind.) and many others in other states. They have also been accepted at and have earned scholarships to such secular universities as Penn State and Shippensburg in the local area as well as Drexel, Bucknell, Lehigh, Pittsburgh, Duquesne, Lebanon Valley, Elizabethtown, and other schools in Pennsylvania, and James Madison (Va.), Minnesota, Florida State, Colorado, South Carolina and many others outside of Pennsylvania.

CVCS students have gone on to study for and earn degrees in ministry, law, medicine (including pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy), education, business, communications, engineering, math, biology, chemistry, and many other fields.

Our students have gone on to earn Masters Degrees in various fields, and one former student recently completed his doctorate at Penn State in chemistry.

In this era of inflated GPAs, do CVCS students face a disadvantage when applying to schools or earning scholarships because they are held to a higher standard?

Not at all. When transcripts are submitted, we send these two things with them: a school profile, which lists all pertinent information about the school; and a grading scale, which breaks our grading system down not only by grades (94-100=A, 85-93=B, etc.) but also by grade point value (4.0 for 99-100, 3.8 for 96-98, etc.). The grading scale also includes our weighted courses and their grade point value. Some colleges to which our students frequently apply have this information on file.

When colleges receive applications from our students, they take all this into consideration. Because of this information, they realize our students do perform well academically and that their GPAs are not inflated.

Concerning scholarships, a student’s grade-point average is considered, but it is hardly the only consideration colleges and organizations make when awarding them. Some colleges base scholarship levels on SAT scores; they may give so much money for 1100 in Reading and Math, an additional amount for 1200, and so on. Additionally, students have to write essays to earn scholarships. Community service also factors into the award system. Students must also ask people to provide letters of recommendation on their behalf.

It takes hard work to win a scholarship, both in sustaining a solid academic record and in adhering to all guidelines in the application process. To put it simply, think of it this way: Scholarships are not given; they are earned.

What is the average SAT score of CVCS students?

Before the SAT added the Critical Writing section in March of 2005, our students scored an average in the 1050-1100 range, which was well above the average nationally. A perfect score in the SAT before Critical Writing was added was 1600.

Now the score is based on a 2400 total (800 in each area). Our students over the past three years have scored from 1% to 9% above the national average in Math, Critical Reading, and Critical Writing.

Is there any difference between a CVCS diploma and a diploma earned by a public school student?

CVCS is accredited by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, which is the same organization that awards accreditation to all the public schools in the area. A CVCS diploma carries the same weight as a diploma from any other accredited school. CVCS is also accredited by Association of Christian Schools International, an organization based in Colorado that awards national accreditation to Christian schools. Our accreditation was recently renewed for a seven-year period.

How difficult are classes at CVCS?

Difficulty, of course, often depends on how much time a student puts into studying for a particular class or how much aptitude a student has for a particular subject. Overall, however, the courses offered at CVCS are rigorous. We strive to provide courses that are as challenging as – or even more challenging than – those offered by public schools.

We offer several advanced courses in our regular curriculum, including Advanced Mathematics and Advanced Physics, as well as Chemistry and Calculus. Those courses are weighted for GPA calculation. We also offer Honors courses in Algebra II, English, and Biology, which are also weighted for GPA calculation. Our regular classes in English and Social Studies, while not weighted, offer students very demanding course work, some of it college level.

We do not provide Advanced Placement (AP) courses; AP courses must be approved by The College Board before they can be offered. However, with proper preparation, our students may take the AP exam to earn college credit. AP exams are very difficult. For example, among the Class of 2004 nationally, only 13% achieved a college readiness score of 3 or better. If a student does wish to take an AP exam, he/she may take it in May.

How do our students stack up in their Achievement Test scores?

We administer the Stanford Achievement Test in late April. Generally, our students score two grade levels ahead of the national average in Math, Reading and Language. Here are some general conclusions based on our most recent Achievement Test scores: